"I was told that they had killed a lad, were roasting him, and going to eat him.... Being arrived at the village where the people were collected, I asked to see the boy.... [T]hey directed me towards a large fire at some distance.... As I was going to this place, I passed by the bloody spot on which the head of this unhappy victim had been cut off; and, on approaching the fire, I was not a little startled at the sudden appearance of a savage-looking man, of gigantic stature, entirely naked, and armed with a large axe. I was a good deal intimidated, but mustered up as much courage as I could, and demanded to see the lad. The cook (for such was the occupation of this terrific monster) then held up the boy by his feet. He appeared to be about fourteen years of age, and was half roasted. I returned to the village, where I found a great number of natives seated in a circle, with a quantity of coomery (a sort of sweet potatoe) before them, waiting for the roasted body of the youth."
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Original Language: English
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Sources
Missionary Samuel Leigh (1821), cited in Robert McNab (ed.), Historical Records of New Zealand, vol.1 (Wellington: John Mackay, 1908), p.574
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cannibalism_in_Oceania
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